Bahia

From the Coconut Coast, in the north, to the Whale coast, in the far south, there are more than 40 tourist destinations and 3900 beaches. The tropical flavor of Bahia’s spicy cuisine, the magic of the religious syncretism, the joy of its people, the biggest carnival in the world and besides all that - amazing beaches, rivers, mountains and waterfalls.

Bahia is pleasant, festive and stimulating, with warm waters and sunny days. In the year 1500, Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in what is now Porto Seguro, southern coast of Bahia and claimed the territory for Portugal. In 1549 Portugal established the city of Salvador, on the hill facing the Bay of All Saints. The city served as administrative and religious capital of Portuguese colonies in Americas until 1763.

CHAPADA DIAMANTINA - The heart of the state of Bahia is a blessed with an extraordinary natural beauty. The Chapada Diamantina is cut by the mountains, plateaus, rivers, rapids, falls, caverns and pools of transparent water. There are innumerable springs, more than 35 rivers, different types of vegetation and rich fauna. The Chapada offers a unique opportunity for living close to nature and to enjoy number of adventure sports.

HISTORICAL CENTER OF SALVADOR - Its streets are like a journey in time, back into Brazilian History. UNESCO has declared it to be a World Cultural Heritage Historic Center, for it has thousands of houses dating from the 16th , 17th and 18th centuries and very rich cultural life. You can enjoy activities such as dance, their famous “martial arts”, Capoeira and a very vibrant music.

WHALE COAST - This last stretch of Bahia´s seashore southwards, is one of those places where nature presents its best features. With kilometers of semi-deserted beaches, marked by well preserved nature and a good infra-structure, the Whale Coast is also one of the best fishing spots in Brazil. Besides the paradisiacal Mucuri, the region has as its main treasure the Abrolhos Archipelago, which has an extraordinary biodiversity and ideal diving conditions. The whales come to its warm and crystal clear waters to give birth to their offspring, a spectacle known as “baleada”.

COCONUT COAST - It’s a great alternative for those who come to Bahia and prefer to stay close to Salvador. The Coconut Coast has more than 200 kilometers of beaches and delightful leisure options. It has an excellent infra-structure and some fantastic hotel complexes, such as Costa do Sauípe, with sporting activities, a golf course and nautical center as well as spaces for holding large-scale events and conventions. Praia do Forte is excellent for nautical sports and scuba diving and it’s the head quarter of Tamar Project, a pioneer of conservation of the marine turtles. The outstanding features of Mangue Seco, on the border of the State, are the dunes of fine with sand. This region also has beautiful rivers and sunshine all year round.

◦ Itinerary Sample

DAY 1

DAY 2

MORNING:
• Arrival at the Salvador International Airport and transfer to the Hotel
• Check in and Lunch
• Beach time!
Afternoon:
• Salvador Cultural Tour - We start the tour at Santo Antonio da Barra Fortress, known as Barras Lighthouse, where the waters of All Saints Bay meet the ocean. The construction is from the 16th century and is a city post card. Going towards the Historical City we pass bay the beautiful neighborhoods of Vitoria and Campo Grande. In the Historical City the tour continues on foot, you will see the best preserved complex of colonial architecture in the Americas .The Terreiro de Jesus is the lively square that marks the entrance to Pelourinho, with its narrow cobbled stone street lined with fine colonial buildings painted in the pastel shades of Bahia’s sunsets, testament to the city’s golden era of the 18th century. In Terreiro de Jesus Square, you will find the newly rebuilt Basilica Cathedral, or Sé Cathedral, and the old building of the School of Medicine, the first of its kind in the country, which has undergone much restoration. You will also find São Francisco Square and the famous baroque Church of São Francisco with its ornate gold leafed interior. The Nossa Senhora do Rosário dos Pretos Church was curiously implanted on a hillside, note the towers with Indian influence, as well as the tiles on the interior. Around the historic center there are internal squares (inside the city blocks) that are cozy and have specific features. There in the evenings, several concerts take place with a diverse cultural program. Bars and restaurants are very sought after; they have a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere. These squares are: Pedro Arcanjo square, Tereza Batista square, Quincas Berro D`Água square, Reagge square and Rosa Oxalá. The Cultural block was recently inaugurated and it has several colonial houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, alongside of the Arts, Culture and Memorial square.
EVENING:
• Dinner & Night in Town - you will feel the mystery and enchantment of Bahian nights as you watch a folkloric performance of Afro-Brazilian dance and music, the sensuality of Samba, the power and precision of Capoeira, and the mystery of the Orixá dances and Candombé rhythms!

Morning:
• Breakfast
• Road Trip to Chapada Diamantina National Park with a Lunch stop

Afternoon:
• Arrival at Lençóis, city at Chapada Diamantina and check in to Hotel
• Hike to Morro do Pai Inácio (Father Inácio's Hill) at 1240m, to watch the sunset. From there you have some of the most spectacular views of Chapada, with a series of flat top mountains that are so characteristic of this landscape. The end of the day light enhances the breathtaking scenery even more.

EVENING:
• Dinner & Tour of Lençois

DAY 3

DAY 4

Morning:
• Breakfast
• Trekking to Poço do Diabo (Devil's Pool) – A series of pools & waterfalls ending in an underground lake, with an incredibly dark water. Nevertheless, the acids that give this color are not pollutants. Here you will have an opportunity to hone your climbing skills and try Abseiling and Tyrolean traverse.
• Visit to Pratinha Grotto, Azull Grotto and Lapa Doco Cave - Pratinha Grotto is a cave excavated by Pratinha River when it leaves the underground and goes to the surface. The grotto, which is about 80 meters high has its terrain covered by micro shells, similar to sand. Outside the grotto it is allowed to swim in the crystal clear waters of Pratinha River. With special glasses it´s possible to see the beautiful plants under the water. With a wonderful scenery, Azul Grotto communicates with Pratinha through an underground stream that has been intriguing scientists and journalists. Diving through this stream is a daring adventure, recommended only for experts. The next cave, situated 9 kilometers ahead, and on the opposite way, is Lapa Doce. It's approximately 3 kilometers long and its main attractions are the stalagmites and stalactites. By this time the sunrays start to enter it and reach the water, creating magical colors.
EVENING:
• Dinner & Entertainment

Morning:
• Breakfast
• Road trip to Praia do Forte (Fortress Beach) with a Lunch stop

Afternoon:
• Arrival at Praia do Forte and Check in to Hotel
• Swimming & Snorkeling
• Massage & Yoga on the Beach

EVENING:
• Diner and Luau Beach Party

DAY 5

DAY 6

Morning:
• Breakfast
• Canoeing – on the tranquil waters of Timeantube Lake you can have a beautiful and relaxing trip, overlooking the exuberant natural scenery. On board of 3 people canoes, you go around aquatic vegetation, passing by small islands full of birds.
• Lunch
Afternoon:
• Horse Back Riding – visiting forest, villages and sand dunes with a specialized guide.
EVENING:
• Dinner
• Turtles by Night – Between September and March, turtles came to the sands of the Praia do forte Beach to lay their eggs. With orientation of biologists of “Tamar” Project, we organize night expeditions to experience this miracle of nature.

Morning:
• Breakfast
• Boat Tour to the “All Saints Bay” - the largest bay on the Brazilian coastline, dotted with 36 islands
• Lunch

Afternoon:
• Transfer to Salvador International Airport for departure

* Our program itineraries are highly customizable! - As a rule, we carefully design each and every itinerary - tailor made to fit our client's needs and desires.

* We are flexible! - If you have already made some traveling arrangements, we will work with you to incorporate them into our program - or work our program around them.